Robinson hoping for a Rovers return after blood clot on his lung threatened career

Paul Robinson has revealed he is taking tentative steps to recovery after suffering a harrowing blood clot on his lung.

Like most players and staff at Blackburn Rovers, the former England goalkeeper has endured a troubled season but Robinson's life took a particularly dangerous twist when, after a back operation in March, a clot formed in his lung. He suffered respiratory problems and was kept in hospital.

The 33-year-old was immediately put on the blood thinning drug Warfarin and was ruled out for six months.

Out: Robinson has been absent with a blood clot on his lung

Now he is beginning his recovery with the hope of being able to resume his career in August.

'First of all it was until October,' says Robinson, 'but hopefully it’s been moved forward now, it’s looking like I’ll be fit for the start of the season.

'I can start my fitness training but because of the Warfarin I can’t put my gloves on again.

'I can’t risk falling over and getting a bruise because it could become a big haematoma, internal bleeding. If I got a nose bleed and got hit in the nose it wouldn’t stop bleeding.'

Robinson still has two years left on his contract at Ewood Park but saw a move to West Ham fall through in January and is aware the club wants to cut down on their wage bill and he is among those higher earners.

Recovery: Robinson hopes to be back early next season

'I don’t know what’s going on,' he said. 'I’ve had different conversations with previous managers and until there’s a manager in place to have a conversation with about my future, I’m just concentrating on getting myself fit.

'My contract was extended at the beginning of last season, so I’ve got two years left at Blackburn. I’m not sure where that’s going to leave me at the moment. There have been other options so we’ll just have to wait and see when I get back fit again.'

With caretaker Gary Bowyer expecting to be named as permanent manager, despite continued speculation of the club speaking to Brighton target Tim Sherwood, Robinson says the players are yearning for stability after a season that saw five managerial changes and a relegation battle.

Man in charge: Gary Bowyer is expected to be named permanent boss of Blackburn

'It’s been a very difficult season with the turnover of managers and I think in the end we were very lucky to stay in the league,' he added.

'The lads did very well towards the end of the season to actually stay in the league. I think at one point in the season we’d had more managers than away wins. Stability is needed at the club and hopefully, moving forward, that’s what we’ll get.

'I haven’t been there for two months but I speak to the boys and it’s obviously been unsettling. Gary (Bowyer) is a very good guy and very knowledgeable, and I think you can see in a short time that he has brought stability and results.

'He has the players’ respect. Whoever comes in, whether it’s Gary or whoever else, it needs stability, some direction and some leadership.'